Rail-clamp signal



Aug. 23,1927.

M. A. ANKELE RAIL CLAMP SIGNAL Filed Dec. 21, 1926 u'uemfoz (lite-(met; o.

staff supported thereby is given an upward may be positioned on rails the details of construction Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

MOBITZ A. ANKELE, Off DANVI'LLE, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-CLAMP SIGNAL.

Application filed December 21, 1926. Serial No. 156,141.

This invention relates to a signal supporting device especially designed for supporting flag staffs or similar signal supports on railway tracks. I

An important object of the invention is to rovide a device of .thischarac'ter which will automatically clamp a railway rail when the device is positioned thereon, and one which will automatically release itself when the pull.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including an adjustable jaw, to the end that the device of various sizes.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a removable staff support constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the staff in section.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device includes a curved body portion 5 which is formed with downwardly and inwardly extended portions 6 formed integral therewith and adapted to embrace a portion of a railway rail.

This body portion is substantially wide and is provided with a socket 7, which socket is provided with an inclined wall 8 adapted to cooperate with one of the edges of the wedge-shaped support 9 that moves therein.

This wedge-shaped member 9 is provided with a socket member 10 in which the stafi' 11 may be positioned, the staff having a suitable flag or other indicating device supported at the upper end thereof. Formed in the member 9 is an elongated opening 12 that accommodates the pin 13 that extends across the socket 7, to the end that the wedgeshaped member 9 may move vertically within the socket 7, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Extending through the socket and diswardly and outwardly extended arm 15' weightedas at 16-so that the aw will normally swing to its inactive position or to a position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, that is, when the wedge-shaped member 9 is moved to a position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

As shown more clearly by Figure 1, the jaw 14 has an inclined elongated opening for the reception of the bolt 15, the opening being indicated by the reference character 16'.

Thus it will be seen that dueto the construction shown and described, a person may by dropping the device on a rail and forcing the member 9 downwardly within the socket 7, cause the device to clamp the rail in such a way as to support the staif 11 and signal mounted at the upper end thereof in a vertical position on the track.

It will be obvious that when an upward pull is directed to the staff 11, the wedgeshaped member 9 will move upwardly disengaging the jaw 14 and allowing the weight 16 to overbalance the arm to cause the jaw 14 to become disengaged from the rail.

I claim:

1. A removable staff support including a body portion, a jaw formed integral with the body portion, a pivoted jaw mounted on the body portion, means for normally holding the pivoted jaw in its inactive position, a wedge-shaped member having a socket to receive a staff, said wedge-shaped member being pivotally supported by the body portion, and said wedge-shaped member adapted to engage the pivoted jaw to move the pivoted jaw into clamping relation with the first mentioned aw.

2. A removable staff support including a body portion, a jaw forming a part of the body portion, a pivoted jaw carried by the body portion, means for normally holding the pivoted aw in its inactive position, and a staff supporting member pivotally sup ported by the body portion and adapted to engage the pivoted jaw to move the pivoted jaw to its active position.

3. A removable stafi support including a body portion, jaws extending laterally and rearwardly from the body portion and adapted to clamp over a rail, a pivoted jaw a. A removable staff support including a body portion, a socket member forming a part of the body portion and having an inclined wall, a jaw extending from the body portion and adapted to clamp a rail, a pivotedjaw mounted within the socket member and adapted to contact with the rail to clamp the body portion to the rail, and a vertically movable wedge-shaped member adapted to pass into the socket member and,

engage theinclined wall thereof to move the movable jaw into clamping relation with the rail.

5. A removable staff support including a body portion, a jaw formed integral with the body portion, apivoted jaw cooperating with the first mentioned jaw for clamping the body portion to a railway rail, an arm extending upwardlyand outwardly from the pivoted jaw and having a weight to tilt the pivoted jaw to its inactive position, and a wedge-shaped member adapted to move into the socket member and engage the pivoted jaw to cause the pivoted jaw to clamp a rail.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

MORITZ A. ANKELE; 

